Thousands of miles from home, eight international players found more than just a place on Temple’s roster; they’ve found a family.
In 2025, the Temple’s Women’s Field Hockey roster featured eight international players from across the globe. Under Head Coach Michelle Vittese, the team turned cultural differences into a competitive strength and a season to remember.
The Temple Women’s Field Hockey roster consisted of eight international students, five of them freshmen. The Owls concluded their season with a road win against Providence, giving them a record of 12-6 on the season. Head Coach Michelle Vittese has worked not only to lead the team to success but also to recruit overseas talent from France, Argentina, and the Netherlands, helping them feel like a family and operate as a unit on and off the field.
There were a few aspects that drove these students to play at Temple, such as its location in a big city, but most players cited Vittese’s recruiting and the team’s welcoming environment as their main reasons for committing to Temple.
“When I was choosing schools, I emphasized more on team culture,” senior midfielder Agustina Tucceri said. “I wanted to go to a team that felt like home so I wouldn’t miss home as much. Temple was the one that made me feel like I was going to find a family.”
Having a group you can call a family makes adjusting to life on a new continent more manageable.
“[Your teammates] are always there for you,” junior forward Mathéa Lassalle said. “You finish the game, there’s a big tailgate, and your parents are not there. Even if you had a bad game, it just sucks when you have no one to talk to. I feel like the girls are so sweet and caring; they’re always here for international students.”
Vittese has made practices feel like a safe space where anyone can speak up and share insight. This helps the team connect, and the coaches are not afraid to speak up despite language barriers.
“I think Michelle is doing a really good job; she’s planning a lot of team dinners and activities,” freshman midfielder Mara Lenting said. “One time we went boating, and it was a surprise instead of having practice.”
Vittese has gone as far as to plan a team trip to the Netherlands, the hometown of five different players on the team, for them to share their home and culture with friends and teammates.
Apart from being away from home, these students are adapting to the collegiate style of play as well. When playing in the U.S., the game can be faster and more physical than overseas.
“American girls are used to the lift, and they have lifted since they were very young,” said freshman midfielder Lise Korver. “None of us lifted in the Netherlands.”
Temple looks to build on its success in the following season and improve the bond between players.
“I could look at the teammates around me, and everyone was smiling; we all felt super connected,” said Lassalle, referring to the team’s win against Drexel this year. “After the game, everyone was just so happy; we took the bus home, and everyone was singing and having a great time. That was just so nice to be part of.”